Eminem
- The Eminem Show
Eclectic Album of the Year
The following was originally published in our Reviews section.
Review by Dan Grote
Just when you thought it was safe… no,
wait, you’re still safe. America’s most controversial white rapper returns
to light a fire under the summer with The Eminem Show, but in truth he’s
just releasing another album about how he hates his mother and ex-wife
and loves his daughter while recounting his numerous beefs and cursing
a lot.
Dr. Dre is still on board as executive
producer, but the hip-hop mastermind has spiced up Em’s repertoire with
some rock riffs alongside the usual synth beats, including a sample of
Aerosmith’s “Dream On” on “Sing for the Moment.” Eminem’s attempts to stop
singing about his mother (“Cleaning out My Closet”) open the floor for
songs about how passionate he is about his music (“When the Music Stops,”
“Till I Collapse”). On the same token, The Eminem Show also features more
angry songs, i.e. the state-of-the-rapper address “White America” and “Say
What You Say.”
Of course, there is also the uber-catchy
lead single, “Without Me,” whereupon the rapper egotistically welcomes
himself back to the game, proclaiming, “it feels so empty without me.”
“Without Me” follows “Drips,” wherein Eminem gives mic time to his more
crude than shocking D12 pals. Other guests on the album include Dre’s fellow
West Coast alumni Nate Dogg and Xzibit.
Also featured on The Eminem Show is daughter
Hallie Jade Mathers, who sings the chorus on “My Dad’s Gone Crazy,” marking
her first vocal appearance since the early “’97 Bonnie and Clyde (Just
the Two of Us).” “’Crazy” is one of the best songs on the album, as Em’s
rhymes start to show signs of evolving as opposed to simply baring the
burdens of past beefs.
VERDICT: It’s hard to stay controversial
when you rap about the same things from album to album, and after a song
like “Kim” from 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP, anything Eminem could do
from here on will most likely be rather tame by comparison. There are few
signs of upping the ante, just more of Eminem dealing with his own hype.
There is an early crest with “White America,” one in the middle with “Without
Me,” and a final, sharper peak with “My Dad’s Gone Crazy,” but don’t expect
The Eminem Show to make the waves its predecessor did.
CD Info
Eminem
- The Eminem Show
Label: Aftermath/Interscope
Records
Rating: 
Tracks:
Curtains Up - (skit)
White America
Business
Cleanin Out My Closet
Square Dance
The Kiss - (skit)
Soldier
Say Goodbye Hollywood
Drips - (featuring Obie Trice)
Without Me
Paul Rosenberg - (skit)
Sing For The Moment
Superman - (featuring Dina Rae)
Hailie's Song
Steve Berman - (skit)
When The Music Stops
Say What You Say - (featuring Dr. Dre)
'Till I Collapse - (featuring Nate Dogg)
My Dad's Gone Crazy
Curtains Close - (skit) |
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